India ready for the daunting task, says Virat Kohli
Further, he clarified that every session holds the key to India's victory as they would seek to knock down all the sessions in their name.
Skipper Virat Kohli was positive on their chances against the hosts South Africa in the two-month long series starting January 5. The skipper feels that they have the right combination and balance to break new records and win a series against South Africa in their backyard to underline their top ranking in Tests. India is top of the rankings in the longest format of the game, winning their last nine series convincingly, which stretches way back to August 2015.
Since 1992, however, in South Africa, the Asian side has just won two games out of the 17 games that they have played. The team have lost five of their last six series, while their best result was a draw in the 2010/11 series.
“Our best result here has been a drawn series in 2010-11 but I feel the kind of bowling attack we have now and the balance we have in the side, we definitely can win here. There are no two ways about it,” told a confident Kohli as India’s preparations for the first Test at Newlands in Cape Town were underway.
“We come here wanting to express ourselves, believing in our abilities and knowing we have the right balance to win Test matches under any conditions we play under,” added the Indian skipper according to Cricbuzz.
Every session holds a key to victory
However, the skipper was quick to clarify that the past did not matter as the team looked to start afresh against South Africa. Further, he clarified that every session holds the key to India’s victory as they would seek to knock down all the sessions in their name.
“If we didn’t have that mindset, there would be no point getting on to the flight to come here,” Kohli told reporters.
Kohli also said that the pace attack that India currently possess is very different from the one that toured in the year 2010/11. Umesh Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Ishant Sharma form the trio and India would have Jasprit Bumrah as an addition to the squad.
“That’s something we did last time. You can’t afford to worry about the pace and bounce, you have to believe in your abilities and take it head-on. That’s key to playing in conditions that are different from your own,” concluded an optimistic Kohli ahead of the first Test on 5th January.
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